Globalaffairs

Issue 12/December-January 2009
By Juan Luis Dorado

In the last few months, people have been talking a lot about the change. The President-Elect of the United States has arrived at the White House with a message of change. They are also trying to change the international financial system, to avoid a new difficult situation for the markets. But, when will the situation change in Latin America?

During the last years, several Latin-American countries have reemerged and they have acquired an important role in the international system of the 21st century (above all in the economy).

Brazil has turned into a world economic power. This country is one of the strong ones of the Group of Emerging Market Countries. Moreover, Brazilian President Lula da Silva had an important role at the meeting for the financial reform, which took place in Washington.

Argentina also recovered stillness after the stormy times of the “corralito” and it is also becoming important in the International Community. An example of this was Cristina Fernández, being at the meeting of the G-20.

México still has an important role in the world economy, mainly because it is the transition zone to the United States for the transport of a large number of raw material.

Furthermore, countries such as Bolivia and Venezuela, in its own way, have brought their left-wing ideological speech to the international outlook. These two countries are also economically very strong, as they have two essential raw materials for the world economy: gas in Bolivia and oil in Venezuela. Different opinions have always said that this region, which is the richest and most varied one for raw materials in the whole world, should be the supplier of these materials for the rest of the world in the next years. A situation like this would make these countries take a huge step forward in the economic and social fields in the international society.

However, that step has not been taken.

During the 17th Latin American Summit, which was hold in Santiago de Chile in November 2007, Latin American, Spanish, Portugal and Andorra leaders discussed over the social cohesion of Latin America and the Caribbean. It was a detailed speech, which was left in the background, because of the incident between the Spanish King and Hugo Chávez.

One year has passed since then, and there has been a new Latin American Summit in El Salvador. The situation of the social cohesion is not taking the necessary steps to make the region progress from the basis, from the people. Hugo Chávez, with his Bolivarian movement, demands this revolution, which may affect Latin American citizens. This left-wing speech, based on the progress of Latin American people, has been brought from Venezuela to other countries such as Bolivia and Ecuador.

There have been more words tan facts, and none of these ideas have got beyond the fact of several leaders coming into power. The Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, whose aim was to announce the Bolivarian Revolution, the new ideas for Latin America, has not made the social cohesion to improve in the countries involved in the movements.

In other countries the situation is quite similar. Colombia, one of the countries with a high potential in the region, is focused on a war that seems not to come an end. Meanwhile, the number of displaced people is rising and the economic situation is similar to that in the whole region: Profits are increasing, but they are still shared out in a few hands.

Chile could be an exception. Many reports point out that Chile is the most European country in Latin America. Maybe it has an economically enviable situation in the region, especially for its commercial relations with the emergent economies of Southeastern Asia. However, in Chile there are still lots of problems with regard to the differences of social classes. A gap between rich and poor people is growing more and more in Latin American countries and Chile is not an exception.

One year after that declaration about Social Cohesion, made in the Latin American Summit in Santiago de Chile, things continue being the same in the region. During several days, leaders walked around, planted trees, discussed and signed documents.

They signed full documents, where problems in Latin American and the Caribbean were detailed and many solutions were given to reach the Social Cohesion in the region.

No doubt that one would have been the change that Latin America needs. But more than one year has passed and those measures continue being written on a paper, which reminds every day the commitments made on the Summit. Those measures have not had yet the effect where they should: on daily life of Latin American people.

Will Obama help to make this change?

“Yes, we can!” has been Barack Obama’s message during his campaign for the presidential elections in the United States. He had finally an overwhelming victory over John McCain. Obama’s message of change has been brought all over the world, not only to American citizens.

The international society needs this change, which would mean a change in the system of the last years, which has led the world to a difficult situation: Humanitarian crisis, economic imbalances, economic collapse, climate change, etc.

Obviously there are problems all over the world, starting by the United States. Therefore Barack Obama’s message of change is so important. If the world first power can change its situation, making the economy work again, and avoiding the imperialist politics of the last few years, the United States will be able to help the international society to overcome the crisis they are facing. Latin America may have an important role in this change.

Previously, especially during the Cold War, Latin America was known as the United States’ backyard. This situation affected all fields: economic, social and politic fields.

Nowadays, Latin American governments (with some exceptions) have already changed their relationship with the United States. It has been a democratic attack and there were left-wing and right-wing governments, and so it moves away from the paradigm of the fight to distance themselves from the United States: The Cuban Revolution.

In view of this situation, one of the most important Latin American fights since the end of the Cold War has been the improvement of their relations with the White House.

They have not achieved it yet, but countries such as Brazil, Chile, Colombia or Argentina do have relations with the President of the United States, in order to demand some things in exchanged of some raw materials, which they practically plundered in the past.

Obama is announcing a change. That change must be made in all fields and not only in the United States but also in the approach to international relations.

The Bush Administration has looked down on Latin America during the last eight years. Countries who did not accept its Free Trade Areas and its politics of submission to the White House were practically included in the list of terrorist countries. As an example we can mention Venezuela and its President Hugo Chávez.

During these eight years the United States have searched these raw materials in some places where they were much cheaper, especially in some Asian and African countries. Bush has turned his back to Latin America, which has traditionally been the market for the United States. He did not do anything neither for reaching the Social Cohesion in the region. If the United States is not interested in the progress of Latin America, distances between rich and poor will be bigger and bigger in Latin American countries. Barack Obama should therefore make a change in the United States relations with Latin America.

Washington and Latin American countries should reach a consensus to make this change, which would benefit all of them. The aim of this change is to reach Social Cohesion in the region and to improve life conditions of citizens in Latin American and the Caribbean.

When Latin American people will shout “Yes, we can!”

Obama’s triumph in the presidential elections is a new opportunity for Latin American countries to make a step forward with an American government, which is more inclined to help Latin America than to isolate it.

Maybe it is time to leave the politics of submission, and to reach Free Trade Areas in better condition and to iron out their differences, especially with Venezuela, those have been created in the last eight years during the Bush Administration. There are new chances for Latin American and the Caribbean to take the huge step, which many experts on International Relations have been planning during two decades.

In the near future, many raw materials will be needed for the new forms of energy. Latin American has them.

Food will be needed to overcome the humanitarian crises, which are predicted to happen in Africa. Latin America’s role may be essential. They also will need qualified workers. The region has already a great number of university staff to work in different fields. Now it is the governments’ job to help them to develop all these qualities and to expand them, as well as improving the education systems (primary, secondary and university education), in order to increase the number of people qualified to help their societies to face this change.

That change, that step forward has been expected in many times. The last time it was expected was in the beginning of 21st century with the new left-wing revolutions. But they could not bring it to practice and benefit Latin American societies.

Indirectly, the triumph of Obama in the American elections helps to make positive predictions for the future of Latin America. Latin American governments should take advantage of an American Administration, which favors Latin American initiatives, with views of improving the daily life of their people.

Once Obama will preside over the government of the United States, we may observe the first movements towards Latin America. There may be a change in the future of the society all over the world. Latin American people have a new chance to show their true value in the development of international relations.

It will be the time of observing if again, it will just be theory or if finally, Latin America and the Caribbean will make the step forward that they have been announcing for years. A change like this should have citizens as the major figures.

Juan Luis Dorado Merchán
Specialist in Latin American Politics

Global Affairs is not liable for author’s opinion.

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